The standard definition of a dodecahedron is a geometrical object with twelve faces. A Roman dodecahedron is defined as a smallish object with twelve equally-sized faces and holes in the middle of each side that surrounds a hollow middle.
Approximately 100 of these objects have been found throughout Europe : Wales, Italy, Germany, France and other modern countries. Tests show them as dating between the 100s and 200s C.E.Despite the number of them and the fact that they have been found in places known to be populated by the ancient Romans, nobody knows what they are or what purpose they served.
The Romans were famous for writing documents detailing everything from the beliefs about their gods to the eating utensils and other minutia of everyday life. But no existing document even mentions these puzzling twelve-sided objects. Nor do any of the existing pictures and paintings made from the relevant times include even one of these objects.
The Romans were famous for writing documents detailing everything from the beliefs about their gods to the eating utensils and other minutia of everyday life. But no existing document even mentions these puzzling twelve-sided objects. Nor do any of the existing pictures and paintings made from the relevant times include even one of these objects.
There are numerous theories about the purpose these artifacts.
One possible clue is the presence of candle wax found in the interior of one of the recovered dodecahedrons. This leads some scholars to theorize that the objects were used to hold candles for illumination either in homes or in religious rites. Or possibly both.The number of sides may be significant and may represent the 12 signs of the Zodiac and therefore may have indicated supernatural or astronomical uses. Or each side could represent a month of the year and have been used to determine the best times to plant and/or harvest crops. On a website totally devoted to the objects and their possible uses, a researcher theorizes that the objects were used for just such a purpose: the dodecahedron would be used to determine the optimal planting and harvesting dates by the angle of the sunlight striking the object.On the other hand, the notoriously famous Roman builders could have used them for scientific purposes such as water gauges or for some kind of architectural aid.As with the possible candle theory, some of the Roman dodecahedrons were found in or near stockpiles of coins. This led researchers to believe that whatever their purpose, the objects were considered valuable within the Roman society.
Other less technical explanations include the objects were used as dice or as some other kind of entertainment devices such as a child’s toy. The dodecahedron could easily be carried by Roman soldiers on military campaigns to be used as some sort of pastime during times when direct combat was not taking place.While most researchers believe the objects to be of Roman origin, it is not out of the question that they originated as a religious object in a society conquered by the Romans and the invading Roman army took the objects and used them for similar religious purposes in their own form of worship.Other theorists have put forward an educated guess that the artifacts were used in warfare as projectiles or in some way holding together weapons of war. On a more domestic note, one researcher puts forward the theory that the objects were used as an aid to knitting fabric.If this is true, this might explain why something so domestic and unimportant was never mentioned in the formal Roman writings.And it cannot be ruled out that the objects, like modern-day duct tape and clothespins, were used for more than one purpose.Judging by the sheer number of Roman dodecahedrons found, there are most likely many more out there waiting to be discovered. Hopefully, as more of them are dug up, there will be more clues as to what the purpose(s) of the objects were in ancient Roman times.
Other less technical explanations include the objects were used as dice or as some other kind of entertainment devices such as a child’s toy. The dodecahedron could easily be carried by Roman soldiers on military campaigns to be used as some sort of pastime during times when direct combat was not taking place.While most researchers believe the objects to be of Roman origin, it is not out of the question that they originated as a religious object in a society conquered by the Romans and the invading Roman army took the objects and used them for similar religious purposes in their own form of worship.Other theorists have put forward an educated guess that the artifacts were used in warfare as projectiles or in some way holding together weapons of war. On a more domestic note, one researcher puts forward the theory that the objects were used as an aid to knitting fabric.If this is true, this might explain why something so domestic and unimportant was never mentioned in the formal Roman writings.And it cannot be ruled out that the objects, like modern-day duct tape and clothespins, were used for more than one purpose.Judging by the sheer number of Roman dodecahedrons found, there are most likely many more out there waiting to be discovered. Hopefully, as more of them are dug up, there will be more clues as to what the purpose(s) of the objects were in ancient Roman times.
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